A catch-up of recent tasty gig announcements from across Ireland.
The Bernard Shaw have announced a series of Block Day Parties for upcoming bank holidays.
First up this Sunday May 2nd: Phantasy Sound label boss Erol Alkan, with with Absys Records and Stage73 to welcome drum n bass legend A.M.C for a very rare club appearance, along with longtime MC collaborator Phantom. The lineup is further fleshed out by Jon Averill, Sho, Adriana, Jonnie, Databass, Devi and Bodytonic DJs.
Then on Sunday May 31st, another big outdoor all-dayer Block Party at the Bernard Shaw, 2pm-10pm. The lineup is a serious one: Helena Hauff, Terrence Parker (3-hour set), Danilo Plessow aka MCDE (3-hour set) and IMOGEN. Hauff needs is a vinyl techno master; Terrence Parker is a Detroit house institution and MCDE returns after his set in Fidelity not too long ago.
The Juan MacLean plays Hang Dai on Saturday May 23rd, presented by The Board of Works. The DFA Records’ electronic producer started LCD Soundsystem with James Murphy when they were called. Nancy Wang joined him on vocals for a while as heard on career highlight album The Future Will Come from 2009. A rare appearance in Dublin from one of the most reliably satisfying DJs in dance music – late night, 11pm to 2:30am. Tickets via Eventbrite.
underscores plays The Grand Social on Monday November 9th with special guest UMRU, as part of the GALLERIA world tour. April Harper Grey has been one of the more interesting figures in the American hyperpop/indie-electronic overlap – her debut album fishmonger opened for 100 Gecs on tour and her new album U is out a few weeks. Tickets on sale Thursday April 30th at 10am via singularartists.ie.
Wu Lyf play Button Factory on Tuesday September 15th, as part of their first full UK and European headline tour since reforming. Their second album A Wave That Will Never Break arrived fifteen years on from Go Tell Fire To The Mountain and is a proper triumphant return. Incidentally, The album also contains a hidden track, ‘Triumph’, embedded via NFC chip in the vinyl edition and originally recorded at the time of the band’s initial break-up. Tickets on sale now via foggynotions.ie.
Dún Laoghaire Folk Festival returns for its third edition at Pavilion Theatre, September 9th-13th, curated by Foggy Notions. The line-up is exceptional: Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle (September 9th); Broadside Hacks presents Bright Phoebus Revisited featuring Marry Waterson, Eliza Carthy and Daragh Lynch of Lankum (September 10th); Bonnie “Prince” Billy with Garefowl (September 11th) and with Brigid Mae Power (September 12th); Andy Irvine with Tessa Rose Jackson and Roisín Gowen (September 12th, afternoon); Ellie O’Neill with Aongus & Rua Rí (September 13th, afternoon); Destroyer (Dan Bejar solo) with Art Lorigan (September 13th). Tickets on sale now via Pavilion Theatre.
Galway Folk Festival returns for its 5th edition, June 3rd-7th, with over 80 acts across 11 venues in Galway city – its most ambitious edition to date. Headlined by The Divine Comedy, Richard Thompson, Damien Dempsey and Lisa O’Neill, with a bill that also includes Muireann Bradley, Flyte, RÓIS, Bill Ryder-Jones, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Nadia Reid, Ríognach Connolly & Honeyfeet, How I Became A Wave, Hothouse Flowers and many more. Four new venues join this year including St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church and Leisureland, and there’s a broad free daytime programme alongside the ticketed shows. Tickets via galwayfolkfestival.com.
Fiachra from Slightly Dishevelled is running an all-ages daytime music showcase at St. Andrews Community Centre, Rialto on Sunday June 21st, doors 12pm-5pm. Acts: Stummel, Ireland and hundredcement. Genre is post-punk, spiritual jazz and improvisation. Entry €10 suggested donation on the door. Good to see.
Goldbug launches debut album Swings & Roundabouts at Bello Bar on Friday July 3rd, presented by Foggy Notions. Goldbug is the moniker of Irish/French artist Danilo Ward, raised in a religious commune in rural Provence and now based in Dublin. His debut was co-produced by Chris W Ryan (Just Mustard, Newdad, Chalk) and mastered by Heba Kadry (Björk, Big Thief), and moves through art rock, post-rock, lo-fi electronic and neoclassical territory. He played Other Voices, Ireland Music Week and Sounds From A Safe Harbour last year. Tickets €19.55 via foggynotions.ie.
Francis of Delirium play The Workman’s Club on Tuesday September 22nd. Jana Bahrich’s Luxembourg-via-Montreal project makes the kind of wiry, emotionally direct indie rock that doesn’t hang around – her 2024 album Lighthouse is a good place to start if you haven’t caught up yet. Tickets on sale now via singularartists.ie.
SexyTadhg has announced a 12-date ‘SLUTTRAD’ UK and Ireland tour for October-December 2026, tied to their new bilingual EP TADHG. The Carlow artist’s live show – big band jazz, theatrical soul, dazzling pop with brass, keys, layered harmonies – has been selling out venues and festival stages all year. Irish dates: Dolan’s Kasbah Limerick (October 30th), Connelly’s of Leap (October 31st), Ulster Sports Club Belfast (November 28th), The Savoy Cork (December 3rd), Gleneagle Killarney (December 4th), Vicar Street Dublin (December 17th). Tickets on sale now.
Takuya Nakamura plays Fidelity Studio on Friday May 29th. The 56-year-old Japanese-American trumpeter, composer, producer and DJ has been a fixture of both the NYC jazz and jungle scenes since the mid-90s, with collaborations including Quincy Jones, David Byrne and Arto Lindsay. His live format here is a DJ set spanning jazz, jungle and hypnotic grooves with live trumpet improvisation over the top throughout. Tickets at takuyafidelity.eventbrite.ie.
Mr Whippy Soundsystem + Friends return to Clare Island, Co. Mayo for their 7th annual Bank Holiday Weekender, Friday May 29th to Sunday May 31st. A genuinely singular event: 28+ artists spinning and playing over three days on an open-air seaside dancefloor outside Bay View House and Sailor’s Bar, with Dermot McCabe’s restored 1972 ice cream van as the DJ booth and the FAYA soundsystem doing the work. Confirmed DJs include Amsterdam Beat Club, Perry Louis (Jazz Cafe/Ronnie Scott’s veteran), MindFuzz, Hewan Mulugeta and Lex Woo. Live acts include Max Zaska’s Payday band (neo-soul/funk), the Dirty Jazz Club Quintet and Sun Rose trio. A DIY event, low budget, big heart. Weekender pass €99, day tickets €33-€45 via Eventbrite.
Ballydehob Jazz Festival marks its 20th edition this week, running April 30th to May 4th across the small West Cork town. Now in its third decade as one of the most characterful jazz festivals in Ireland, this year’s milestone edition features circus, music and celebration spread across Ballydehob’s pubs and venues. Full programme at ballydehobjazzfestival.org/
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
